Commission hosts a high-level policy dialogue on the role of forest-based value chains in the EU’s climate transition

Today, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra brought together representatives of forest owners and the pulp and paper sector for a high-level policy dialogue on Europe’s forest-based value chains. Representatives for the Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, also took part in the discussions.

The meeting focused on the timely question of how to enable much-needed investments to promote the long-term resilience and competitiveness of this important sector for the European bioeconomy, and how to maximise the sector’s contribution to Europe’s climate neutrality, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy goals.

Talks kicked off with a discussion about the new business opportunities created by the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming certification framework (CRCF) and by the proposed integration of permanent carbon removals (bio-CCS and Direct Air Capture) into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), as per the Commission’s ETS review from July. Participants explored how these instruments could unlock investment into both climate-smart forest management and biogenic carbon, creating a new strategic asset. The discussion also delved into how the upcoming proposal on national climate targets and flexibilities for the post-2030 period could support these business opportunities.

Across the board, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up the EU’s circular bioeconomy and thus supporting Europe’s transition away from fossil fuel-based materials and feedstocks.